This photograph shows the power station at Nostie Bridge just days before the official opening. The generating station was designed by James Shearer, who had in 1946 been appointed consultant architect for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. Working for this forward looking industry, Shearer was granted the licence to express his own ideas on the style of architecture for the power stations. He became known for his asthetically pleasing designs that blended well with the local landscape. For some power stations, local quarries were used or re-opened to provide stone for the buildings giving further benefit to the communities. Shearer, who continued his association with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for over 20 years, was awarded an OBE for his contribution.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric project for the Lochalsh area was situated at Nostie Bridge, six miles from Kyle of Lochalsh. Work began in 1946 after an official pole raising ceremony that May, and the station was energized in December 1948. Original plans showed two dams, but the terrain proved unsuitable, and one dam was built across Allt Gleann Udalain. The reservoir, dam and power station were constructed at the same time as progress was going ahead with the distribution network, and in laying underwater cables across Loch Duich, Loch Long, Loch Carron and Loch Alsh.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board was established under the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943. Thomas Johnston presented the Act in the House of Commons, declaring that by harnessing 'the great latent power of the region' it would assist in remedying the ills that affected the Highlands. Johnston told the Commons that 'industries, whether owned nationally or privately, will be and ought to be, attracted to locations in the Highlands, as a result of this measure'.

Ordinary consumers would have priority, then the anticipated large power users, and any surplus energy would be sold to the national grid. Profits from these sales would help reduce distribution costs to more remote areas, and assist in carrying out measures for the economic development and social improvement of the Highlands. This famous social clause gave recognition that the Hydro Board was envisaged as an instrument for the rehabilitation of northern Scotland, not just an organization to provide electricity.

The output from the power station at Loch Sloy, west of Loch Lomond, was intended to meet the demand for central and western Scotland. The surplus energy produced here would be used to subsidise the Morar and Lochalsh projects, it being unlikely these smaller schemes could pay their way. The cost of construction of these three projects was estimated at £4,600,000

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Nostie Bridge Generating Station

ROSS: Lochalsh

1940s

hydro-electric; Lochalsh; Nostie; power station; Shearer

Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre

William J Ramsay Archive

This photograph shows the power station at Nostie Bridge just days before the official opening. The generating station was designed by James Shearer, who had in 1946 been appointed consultant architect for the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. Working for this forward looking industry, Shearer was granted the licence to express his own ideas on the style of architecture for the power stations. He became known for his asthetically pleasing designs that blended well with the local landscape. For some power stations, local quarries were used or re-opened to provide stone for the buildings giving further benefit to the communities. Shearer, who continued his association with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for over 20 years, was awarded an OBE for his contribution.<br />
<br />
The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric project for the Lochalsh area was situated at Nostie Bridge, six miles from Kyle of Lochalsh. Work began in 1946 after an official pole raising ceremony that May, and the station was energized in December 1948. Original plans showed two dams, but the terrain proved unsuitable, and one dam was built across Allt Gleann Udalain. The reservoir, dam and power station were constructed at the same time as progress was going ahead with the distribution network, and in laying underwater cables across Loch Duich, Loch Long, Loch Carron and Loch Alsh.<br />
<br />
The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board was established under the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act 1943. Thomas Johnston presented the Act in the House of Commons, declaring that by harnessing 'the great latent power of the region' it would assist in remedying the ills that affected the Highlands. Johnston told the Commons that 'industries, whether owned nationally or privately, will be and ought to be, attracted to locations in the Highlands, as a result of this measure'.<br />
<br />
Ordinary consumers would have priority, then the anticipated large power users, and any surplus energy would be sold to the national grid. Profits from these sales would help reduce distribution costs to more remote areas, and assist in carrying out measures for the economic development and social improvement of the Highlands. This famous social clause gave recognition that the Hydro Board was envisaged as an instrument for the rehabilitation of northern Scotland, not just an organization to provide electricity.<br />
<br />
The output from the power station at Loch Sloy, west of Loch Lomond, was intended to meet the demand for central and western Scotland. The surplus energy produced here would be used to subsidise the Morar and Lochalsh projects, it being unlikely these smaller schemes could pay their way. The cost of construction of these three projects was estimated at £4,600,000 <br />
<br />
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